Agreed, 3D printing is a technology that can change the shape of manufacturing and logistics, etc. Next-Shoring has the potential to change the shape of global economics. For instance, if designs can be sold then a firm will not take an extra step to manufacture the product and the consumer would locally print it out. Large producers already operate on a similar model due to their scale. Chip manufactures have split into architecture designers and fabricators.

"Rather, companies need to make sure they have the tools to stay on the cutting edge, sensing trends before they hit, working closely with partners and employees to analyze, brainstorm, prototype, test, and go to market."

3D printing can be a huge benefit there, allowing rapid prototyping and testing to get products to market faster.

InformationWeek's IT Perception Survey seeks to quantify how IT thinks it's doing versus how the business really views IT's performance in delivering services - and, more important, powering innovation. Our results suggest IT leaders should worry less about whether they're getting enough resources and more about the relationships they have with business unit peers.

They say perception is reality. If so, many in-house IT departments have reason to worry. InformationWeek's IT Perception Survey seeks to quantify how IT thinks it's doing versus how the business views IT's performance in delivering services - and, more important, powering innovation. The news isn't great.